nielsen ratings
(fast national numbers for saturday, may 4, 2013)

Here are the highlights of the nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

CBS (4.240 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T1) was the most-watched network on a low-key Saturday thanks to its mix of "Person of Interest" (2.952 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T11), "48 Hours" (4.127 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T6) and a second "48 Hours" (5.643 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #1).

FOX (2.267 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T1) then shared the demo crown with a new "Cops" (2.728 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T3), the season finale of "Cops" (3.157 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #2) and a rebroadcast of "The Following" (1.592 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T8).

Next up was ABC (2.754 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3) with a new "Bet on Your Baby" (2.264 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T11) alongside repeats of "20/20 Saturday" (2.571 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T8) and a second "20/20 Saturday" (3.427 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T3).

And finally, a new "Smash" (2.282 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T8) and encores of "The Voice" (2.210 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T6) and "Saturday Night Live" (2.326 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.7, #5) on NBC (2.272 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3) closed out the evening.

In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release):

* "Saturday Night Live," with host Zach Galifianakis and musical guest Of Monsters and Men, averaged a 4.4/11 in metered-market households, to deliver the top rating of the night among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in the Local People Meters, out-rating all primetime programming on those networks.

* In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 2.5 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49. "SNL" delivered the top rating of the night among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in the Local People Meters, out-rating all primetime programming on those networks.

Here are the highlights of the eight ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (5/5/12):

FOX (2.25 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #1) took home top demo honors on Saturday with its coverage of the "UFC on FOX #3" (2.25 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2).

CBS (5.57 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #2) then was the most-watched network thanks to repeats of "NCIS: Los Angeles" (4.31 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #6) and "Person of Interest" (5.71 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T3) plus a new "48 Hours Mystery" (6.68 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.3, #1).

Next up was ABC (2.95 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #3) with an encore of "Shark Tank" (3.19 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T3) and the feature "Hancock" (2.82 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T3).

And finally, the season finale of "Escape Routes" (1.23 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #8) was a rebroadcast of "The Voice" (1.96 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.5, #7) on NBC (1.72 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #4) closed out the night.

In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release):

"Saturday Night Live," with host Eli Manning and musical guest Rihanna (5.2/13 in metered-market households), dominated its time period with the #1 rating of the night in metered-market households, ahead of all primetime telecasts on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox. This is the highest-rated "SNL" in metered-market households since March 3 (with host Lindsay Lohan and musical guest Jack White)

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Saturday Night Live" averaged a 3.1 rating, 14 share in adults 18-49, the show's highest LPM rating since March 3. "SNL" was the night's #1 program in the Local People Meters, ahead of all primetime telecasts on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox. Versus the same night last year, "SNL" is up 14 percent in the Local People Meters (3.2 vs. 2.8).

Source: Nielsen Media Research